TAUPO

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 285, 6 January 1930, Page 6

TAUPO

Taupo has beoome one of ihe most popular playgrounds of New Zealnnd. In no other period in its career has it given more pleasure to 1 Jie happy holiday-makers who have eought enjoyment witliin its eonfines than in the recent Christ-mas-New Year beason. It would he quite irapossihlc to estimate the numher of camps, visitors, tourists and others who spent pleasurahle hours along the pieturesque sliore of the great lake from the township of Taupq right roimd the east and sou'-eastern sliore to Tokaanu. In Taupo town itself there were soma thousands of visitors, but over the wliole area Ihe lotal was considerably larger than that experieqced in any previous year. Better roads and the advent of the motor car have brought within the reach of Christmas-New Year holiday trippers advantages that were quite impossihle of enjoyment even a few years ago. Taupo offers possihjlities in this direction greater than any other part of the North Island. In the first place it -is in the centre of the island and is now handy for motor car travelling from any of the towns or cities, Tt has a high altitudo, with a rarity of clear, pure air for which it is famed throughouD the coimtrv, and it has a variety of natural attraction equalled nowhere in New Zealand. It has for long been regarded as the trout fisherman's paradise, and it is even claiined by manv experieneed anglers that in this direction it holds a posiiion that cannot he assailed by any trout fishing waters in the world. Its scenic attractions, most beautiful, are mnnv; its scope for sight-seeing, 'midst mystic thermal wondefs, almost without limit; its beautv spots for campers and pionickers, at this period of the year roaming tbe country in countless thousands, without equal— Taupo, no longer the popular rendezvous of the privileged few, has become the playground of the people. l't is in this connection that a Iittle vision and a certain amount of initiative is ealled for 'by some greater authority than the progres-si\-e hut severely-handieapped liltle body that is attempting — not without u considerahle degree of success with the limited funds at its disposal — to provide for the tremendous and growing tourist traffic that has become Taupo 's right and responisibilitv. We refer to the Taupo Eoad Board. This little body has clone quite good work in the township in roacling work, in controlling the bundreds of campers and in the minor directions, but its scope in dealing with the tourist traffic is cramped to a marked degL'ee. For many years to come any effort that it makes must bo confined to roacling and the provision of up-to-date sewerage, and perhaps lighting, but even in sucli undertakings as these the Eoad Board can only proceed on fairly conservative lines and within marked liinits. It occurs to us that tho time has arrived for tlie Govevnment to take a greater intercst in Taupo. The possibili tlcs for development are tremendous. On every hand are opportunities for improving existing facilities and creating or opening up new avenues of interest and enjoyment for the countless thousands that are flooking now and will flock to Taupo in the years to come. It is perhaps a happy coineidence that we have at the head of the Government to-day the man upon whom the credit must fall for the successful establishment of Eotorua as a tourist attraction and resort. To Sir Joseph Ward must. be given due recognition for the courage and foresiglit that was dis-pla-ved in making Eotorua. Just as Eotorua offered tremendous possibilities many years ago, so Taupo to-day presents opportunities for wider control and development. IJerhaps the best solution would he the placing of the wbole area under the control of the Tourist Dopartm'ent and the placing of that control in the lmncls of a manager who could capably carry out the instructions of his department. It was in soine such way as this that Rotorua was conducted until such time as it could form itself into a borough to work out its own destiny. It'is to the Government that the people of New Zealand must lo'ok for" development of the wonlerful resources of Taupo, and we feel sure that any representations that are made to Sir Joseph Ward in this connection must meet with a most sympathetic hearing. It svas he who made Eotorua — Taupo to day needs the sarae vision and foresiglit that was responsible for making Eotorua.